The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 277 The Inertia of Fate, Sacrifice and Atonement

Fate seems to have returned to its original trajectory.

Voldemort is likely to be resurrected.

But unlike the near collapse in the original story, the current situation is like Quirrell in his first year, where you can perform to your heart's content and everyone silently cooperates.

……

After Dumbledore finished explaining his plans, a somber silence fell over the cabin.

Snape didn't ask any foolish questions, whether the method was feasible or whether it could succeed.

Asking others, even the so-called greatest white wizard, will only yield unreliable answers.

Compared to Dumbledore, Snape had more faith in his own judgment.

Beneath his seemingly calm exterior, he was meticulously calculating the feasibility of this matter.

……

Inside the igloo.

Harry looked around at the scene outside, wondering why they had stopped talking all of a sudden.

But his ears were blocked by magic, so he could only turn his head to look in the other direction.

On the other side...

Ignoring Harry's pleading look, Ino was now looking for an opportunity to share his guess and another solution.

Seeing Snape's resigned expression, Ino slowly spoke:

"Professor! Actually, we have another way..."

With just one sentence, both Snape and Dumbledore turned their heads in surprise.

"Why was Harry fine for the previous eleven years, even for the first few years after entering Hogwarts, but suddenly this happened...?"

Ino shared his speculations about the number of Horcruxes and Voldemort's control over them.

"Could we interpret this as maintaining this number and having Harry master Occlumency as much as possible to maintain the current state, which is also a good option?"

"While maintaining the status quo is conservative, it's safer than building a stage to create a scene where Voldemort and Harry fight one-on-one."

After explaining his thoughts, Ino observed the expressions of Dumbledore and Snape.

However, the expressions on their faces were strange, even somewhat unexpected to him.

Dumbledore seemed interested, but Snape frowned, as if he did not approve of the proposal.

"You don't understand his evil. If your assumptions are wrong, Harry has no chance of survival."

Snape gave his reasons for refuting the argument.

In truth, he harbored another hidden thought.

It is obvious that Dumbledore will not ignore the resurrected Mystic; similarly, the resurrected Mystic will only target Dumbledore as his primary objective.

The best course of action would be to let these two fight for several more decades; that would be the safest and most conservative approach. With that ample time, he was also confident he could develop a potion to suppress Horcruxes.

After all, the wolfsbane that had plagued wizards for thousands of years, and which even Merlin couldn't solve, could be easily controlled by potions.

Snape's profound Occlumency prevented any revelation of his inner thoughts.

Even Dumbledore, who was right next to him, didn't notice anything.

Dumbledore couldn't detect it, and Ino couldn't see anything either, simply assuming it was Snape's concern for Harry.

……

Seeing that Snape did not approve of the second method, Dumbledore only temporarily let the matter drop.

"Regardless of the method used, brain shut-off surgery is crucial and the most urgent."

"Severus, this requires your and Ino's cooperation to get Harry to master Occlumency as soon as possible."

Seemingly sensing that he had finished speaking, Dumbledore also lifted the spell that blocked his ears.

With the spell broken, Harry didn't ask any urgent questions and remained quietly and calmly seated in the igloo.

From a third-person perspective, Ino looked at the composed Harry, then at Dumbledore and Snape opposite him.

Suddenly I realized that a boy's growth might really happen in just a moment.

Harry seems to already have a hint of the prowess he'll display in the final battle.

……

Inside the room, just after the group reached an agreement...

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A loud, rough knocking sounded suddenly.

The voice beside her ear caused a flicker of displeasure to cross Ino's eyes.

Since he bought the cottage, no one had ever visited so rudely; it was as if they were about to violently break down the door.

His changing emotions caused his shadow to wriggle, and wisps of smoke drifted gently out the door along the floor.

……

"Open the door quickly! I know you're in there! What happened to Harry?!"

Outside the door, Sirius, receiving no response, began to shout loudly.

He was sitting peacefully at home when the news from the Ministry of Magic struck him as absurd.

Harry openly attacked his uncle with magic and was even taken away by Ministry of Magic staff.

If the messenger hadn't been a distant relative of the Blake family, he would have thought it was an April Fool's joke.

But by the time they arrived at the Ministry of Magic, it was too late; Harry had already been taken away by Dumbledore.

The pure-blood family's strength was on full display at this moment, as Sirius Black, through the Disaster Management Agency, located Harry's location in Hogsmeade based on the trail.

at the same time.

Despite the continuous knocking, Sirius suddenly felt a chill on his neck.

Looking up, even though it was a sunny day, I felt like I was in Azkaban.

……

In the room, at the instant the shadow changes.

"That knocking reminded me of Hagrid."

Dumbledore smiled, stood up, and strode towards the door.

As Dumbledore moved, the faint smoke on the floor dissipated.

Seeing this, Ino decisively turned around and went upstairs.

Now that we've reached a consensus, there's no need to continue with the heartwarming drama of filial piety and parental love.

It seems he's not the only one with this idea.

Snape sneered and stood up, walking toward the fireplace as well.

His expression and demeanor looked exactly like he was trying to avoid contact with a rabid dog.

Inside the igloo.

The slight smile that had just appeared on Harry's face after hearing Sirius's voice vanished as the two people in the room left.

He turned his head and sighed silently.

Soon, a smile returned to Harry's face.

……

Second-floor bedroom.

Ino lay half-reclined on the bed, annoyed by the commotion downstairs.

"A dog barks..."

With a disgruntled grumble, he then disappeared from the room.

……

Shelter Valley.

Tranquility and peace are the eternal themes here.

The vibrant valley is filled with all sorts of beautiful and interesting flowers: gray Mibu Mibu, lively Jumping Bulbs, pink Umbrella Flowers, and sparkling Bubble Pods...

All of this is the result of the hard work of the trolls and goblins.

Before entering Middle-earth, he had scattered seeds of various magical plants and given the two hardworking fellows the order to plant them.

A full ten years.

Today, the valley, spanning over a hundred acres, has truly become a beautiful herb plantation.

Given the difference in the flow of time, nothing is more cost-effective than growing herbs.

The seeds were bought right after summer vacation, and after experiencing Middle-earth, many ten-year-old magical herbs have grown here.

(End of this chapter)